Every hunter has those hunting tips and tricks that they live by and believe in. Perhaps they have been handed down through the generations or just through trial and error. No matter the list, there are going to be those common items that are important to the hunt as a whole and here are the top three in common.
First and foremost is a weapon that you can count on, that you’re familiar with and that will provide a kill shot for the specific animal you are hunting. Meaning you will not be taking a 12 gauge shotgun with small game shot out to hunt black bear, or a 30.06 for grouse. Your weapon of choice must meet the needs of the harvest.
There are always opportunities to push the limit of your abilities as well as those of your chosen weapon. For example, if you are out archery hunting bull elk with a homemade recurve bow, that will test your skills in a completely different way than hunting those same bulls with a long range rifle. Both means can absolutely harvest the animal but use a vastly different skill set.
Second on the list is a sharp knife. Some of you will chose a full dressing package with a number of different tools from razor knives to rib saws. Others have one specific cutting tool that they can manipulate through the most delicate cuts to the most extreme. Whatever your choice, if you find yourself in the field with a downed animal and no knife, then you are in a world of hurt.
Along with a Gerber razor knife with many extra razors, I have two pocket knives and one nine inch blade that I refer to as my ‘last measure of defense’. I keep it on my belt within reach in case there isn’t time to draw my bow or gun and an attack is inevitable. If I happen to get in a tangle with a cat or a bear, I want something available to help keep me alive.
Coming in third on the list of the three most important hunting items, are boots. A good pair of footwear can make all the difference in whether you are staying out until last light or if you’re heading back to camp in a rainstorm because your feet are wet and you’re too cold to go on.
There have been many circumstances, when I head out to an area and I just know that my feet, by the end of the day, will be numb from cold. Even with good boots and wool socks, I know my feet and how they don’t keep the heat. That’s due to too many years of skating in the winter as a kid in below freezing temperatures with paper thin socks and crappy skates. But I accept that. If I don’t have the good boots, though, I wouldn’t be able to stay out half as long and that is what’s important to me.
Invest in good boots that will provide you the support you need for the terrain you plan to travel and the insulation necessary for the weather you will be in. Depending on the season, your boots may change. If you are able, purchase boots with little or no insulation for those spring and early fall hunts, and another pair for those late hunts in the snow with a good amount on insulation to protect your feet.
Your feet take a lot of abuse each time you go out hunting. Don’t forget them. They support you and carry you up the steepest, rockiest grades and through the muddiest, wettest undergrowth. Their comfort will keep you hunting longer and perhaps more often. Happy feet, happy hunting!
Archery and Camo 